Derek Kruger

Hello, I'm Derek Kruger, IT Professional and geek at heart.

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Derek Kruger is an accomplished, dynamic, and conscientious IT Professional with a history of consistent success driving the planning and execution of mission-critical projects and services in multiple environments. A leader who consistently drives service and performance levels while reducing costs. Possesses a strong record of optimizing business, operational, and process integrity by introducing best practices and continually delivering exceptional performance in Strategic Planning, Technical Enhancements, and Process Improvement. Derek Kruger is a Business Leader and hands-on Technology Expert who introduces innovative technology support programs that increase productivity and reduce costs. Proven successful at fostering positive change and restructuring to improve organizational effectiveness while garnering buy-in and support from all stakeholders. Thrives in environments requiring a high level strategist and a big picture thinker. Drives profitable and cost- effective collaboration between stakeholders, both corporate and client, and critical business functions. Interacts with experts from diverse disciplines, building trust and respect through clear vision, solid judgment, and strong communication skills. Experienced in communicating with people from diverse cultures.

IT & Communications Supervisor at City of Safford

September 2005 - December 2011

Overhauled service model to support all city departments with top-level issue distribution and resolution, meeting disparate needs of all stakeholders. Manage IT Department, including Finance, Marketing, IT Planning, Supplier Management, Organizational Development, and maintaining IT Policies. Oversee vendors, department spend, needs prioritization, and strategic planning. • Led forklift upgrade of city network and phone system, including transitioning to existing network and computer infrastructure to support new VOIP phone system and increase overall bandwidth and reliability city-wide. Completed project early and under budget by 30% by leveraging staff and vendor resources. • Achieved 50% reduction of hardware in datacenter by executing large-scale upgrade of Windows server systems to Windows 2008/R2 based on Windows Clusters and Microsoft Hyper-V. • Reduced software spend by 60%. Reduced annual software spend, resulting in savings of $600,000 over three years while bringing city-wide systems up to date with hardware and software.

Information Technology and Communications Supervisor at City of Safford

January 2005 - December 2011

Overhauled service model to support all city departments with top-level issue distribution and resolution, meeting disparate needs of all stakeholders. Manage IT Department, including Finance, Marketing, IT Planning, Supplier Management, Organizational Development, and maintaining IT Policies. Oversee vendors, department spend, needs prioritization, and strategic planning. Led forklift upgrade of city network and phone system, including transitioning to existing network and computer infrastructure to support new VOIP phone system and increase overall bandwidth and reliability city-wide. Completed project early and under budget by 30% by leveraging staff and vendor resources. Achieved 50% reduction of hardware in datacenter by executing large-scale upgrade of Windows server systems to Windows 2008/R2 based on Windows Clusters and Microsoft Hyper-V. Reduced software spend by 60%. Reduced annual software spend, resulting in savings of $600,000 over three years while bringing city-wide systems up to date with hardware and software.

IT Consultant at derek.kruger

August 2003 - September 2005

Consulted in the SMB (Small & Medium Business) area. Provided general system support for Windows based systems. Served as primary technology consultant in advising and recommending storage, telephone, and system continuity solutions.

Senior Support Specialist at Misys Healthcare Systems

September 1999 - August 2003

Provided Windows support and consulting for laboratory information systems clients including several large clients such as the Cleveland Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, Tucson Medical Center and others. Comprehensive Microsoft SQL 2000 database management and support.

Systems Specialist Lead at Misys Technology

January 1999 - January 2003

Led team to design high availability Windows based laboratory information systems and performed initial installation and configuration of servers and systems. Worked directly with world-class hospitals and laboratories to include Cleveland Clinic and Massachusetts General Hospital. Reduced support cost 40% through design of remote administration and support configuration using open source and SSH to comply with emerging HIPAA regulations. Worked with OEM vendors (Dell, HP) to document and deliver hardware and software solution bundles to clients. Supported clients on Windows and SQL servers as well as laboratory software.

Field Service Lead at Micron Technology

January 1996 - January 1999

Led support engineering teams focusing on Windows NT, Exchange, SQL, and Internet server products. Took over as site backup administrator, managing backup and recovery of all site production, databases, and servers. Served as Project Manager for Windows NT client implementation at memory fabrication plants; part of Micron's purchase of Texas Instruments silicon production facilities. Provided on-call and 24x7 support for Fab clean rooms and HA servers and workstations.

Independent Consultant at derekkruger.com

January 2003

Various Locations 2003-Present Provide technology advice to the SMB space in infrastructure, growth, and web spaces. Negotiate on behalf of clients with vendors to build solutions.

IT Management Western Governor's University

2007 – 2009

Master

Western Governors University

2006 – 2009

CMBA

Concentration: MBA - IT Management

Northern Arizona University

1993 – 1996

BS

Concentration: Political Science

Northern Arizona University

1993 – 1996

Bachelor of Science

Concentration: Political Science; Computer Science

United States Military Academy at West Point

1987 – 1991

Concentration: Political Science

Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, The Big Bang Theory, Castle, Star Wars, Star Trek, Golf, Horse back riding, my girls, my wife, reading, writing